Trade Career Comparison

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Glazier

Install glass in windows, skylights, storefronts, and building facades.

$49,710/yr median

$32,420$77,120

AverageHeavyUnion: ModerateEntry: Moderate

Training Path

3-4 year apprenticeship

Environment

Indoor/Outdoor

Outlook

Average (+5%)

BLS Code

47-2121

Pros

✓Unique trade with less competition — far fewer people train as glaziers compared to electricians or plumbers, which can mean better job availability.
✓Interesting variety of work — from small residential window replacements to massive curtain wall installations on skyscrapers.
✓Good union representation in many markets through the IUPAT (International Union of Painters and Allied Trades) Glaziers conference.
✓Growing demand from energy-efficient building upgrades and new commercial construction that relies heavily on glass facades.
✓Precision work that combines physical skill with technical knowledge of glass types, sealants, and framing systems.

Cons

✗Glass is heavy, fragile, and extremely dangerous when it breaks — cuts and lacerations from broken glass are an occupational hazard.
✗Working at heights is common, especially on commercial curtain wall projects where you install glass panels on building exteriors from scaffolding or swing stages.
✗Physically demanding — large glass panels can weigh hundreds of pounds and must be handled carefully while maneuvering them into frames.
✗Weather-exposed work on exterior installations, including wind that makes handling large glass panels even more challenging.
✗Seasonal slowdowns can occur in cold climates, though interior glazing work continues year-round.

What the Life Is Like

Glaziers install glass in a wide range of settings — residential windows and doors, commercial storefronts, curtain wall systems on high-rises, interior glass partitions, mirrors, and specialty applications like shower enclosures and skylights. Commercial glaziers on large projects work with aluminum framing systems, structural silicone, and engineered glass panels. Residential glaziers handle replacement windows, tabletops, and mirror installations.

The schedule is typically 40 hours per week, with overtime on projects approaching deadlines. Commercial curtain wall work on high-rise buildings involves working at significant heights — on scaffolding, swing stages, or from inside the building reaching through openings. The work culture in glazing tends to be methodical and careful, because the consequences of dropping a $5,000 glass panel are immediate and expensive.

Physically, glazing work is demanding. Glass panels are heavy and awkward to handle, and they must be moved and positioned with care. You will use suction cups, hoists, and cranes to handle larger panels, but there is still significant manual handling involved. The work requires a steady hand and patience — setting glass into frames, applying sealants, and ensuring everything is plumb, level, and watertight takes precision. Many glaziers take pride in the finished product — there is something satisfying about a perfectly installed glass facade or storefront.

How to Get Started

Apply for a glazier apprenticeship

The Glaziers conference of the IUPAT and ABC both offer glazier apprenticeship programs lasting 3-4 years. Applications typically require a high school diploma or GED and may include an aptitude test and interview.

Start as a glazier helper if no apprenticeship is immediately available

Many glazing contractors hire helpers who clean glass, carry materials, and assist journeymen with installations. This gives you exposure to the trade and can lead to a formal apprenticeship or on-the-job advancement.

Learn the fundamentals during your apprenticeship

Training covers glass types and properties, blueprint reading, frame and sash systems, curtain wall installation, sealant application, safety procedures, and the use of specialized glazing tools. You will work on progressively more complex installations as your skills develop.

Get comfortable working at heights

Commercial glazing frequently requires working on scaffolding, swing stages, and at elevation. OSHA fall protection training is essential. If heights are a serious concern, residential and interior glazing work involves less elevation.

Advance into specialty work or estimation

Experienced glaziers can specialize in curtain wall installation, decorative glass, or auto glass. Project estimating and management roles are available for those who understand both the technical and business sides of glazing contracts.

Felony Record & Licensing

Generally Accessible

No individual license required in most states. Apprenticeship-based entry.

Glazier is one of the more accessible trades for people rebuilding after a conviction.

Training Funding & Support

Pell Grants Are Available Again

As of July 2023, the FAFSA no longer asks about drug convictions. The FAFSA Simplification Act restored Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. If a past drug conviction kept you from financial aid before, you can apply again.

WIOA Workforce Funding

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds free job training, career counseling, and supportive services (transportation, work clothes, childcare) for people reentering the workforce. Contact your local American Job Center (careeronestop.org) to see what's available in your area.

Ban-the-Box & Fair Chance Hiring

Over 37 states and 150+ cities have "ban-the-box" or fair chance hiring laws that prevent employers from asking about criminal history on job applications. Many require waiting until after an interview or conditional job offer. These laws are expanding rapidly — check your state's specific rules.

Licensing laws vary by state and change frequently. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Always verify with your state's licensing board before enrolling in a training program.

Data last verified March 2026 · View sources

We verify our data against official sources. Verification dates show when we last checked — they do not guarantee the information is still current. Laws, rates, and thresholds can change at any time. Always confirm critical information at the official source or with a qualified professional.

National Employment Law Project (NELP) — Fair Chance Hiring

General trade accessibility levels for people with felony convictions — categorized as generally-accessible, varies-by-state, often-restricted, or highly-restricted

https://www.nelp.org/policy-issue/criminal-records-and-employment/

Verified March 2026

trade-schools.net — Jobs for Felons

Trade accessibility and reentry employment guidance for specific trades

https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/jobs-for-felons

Verified March 2026

Hire Felons — Reentry Employment Guide

Employer reentry hiring policies and trade accessibility for people with felony convictions

https://www.hirefelons.org/

Verified March 2026

ASE — About ASE Testing

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.ase.com/certification-series/

Verified March 2026

OSHA — Powered Industrial Trucks

OSHA forklift certification — employer-provided, no criminal history screening

https://www.osha.gov/powered-industrial-trucks

Verified March 2026

EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification

EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.epa.gov/section608

Verified March 2026

Federal Student Aid — FAFSA Simplification Act

Pell Grant eligibility restored for people with drug convictions and incarcerated individuals, effective July 1, 2023; PELL_GRANT_RESTORED_DATE: "July 2023"

FAFSA Simplification Act, Pub. L. 117-103 (2021); 20 U.S.C. § 1070a

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-simplification

Verified March 2026

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — Ban the Box Legislation

Ban-the-box and fair chance hiring laws — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities as of 2026; BAN_THE_BOX_STATE_COUNT: 37; BAN_THE_BOX_CITY_COUNT: 150

https://www.ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/ban-the-box-legislation

Verified March 2026

NELP — Ban the Box: U.S. Cities, Counties, and States

Fair chance hiring law coverage — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities; BAN_THE_BOX_PRIVATE_EMPLOYER_STATES: ["California", "Illinois", "New Jersey", "Washington"]

https://www.nelp.org/publication/ban-the-box-fair-chance-hiring-state-and-local-guide/

Verified March 2026

U.S. Department of Labor — Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO)

WIOA Section 169 workforce funding for reentry — job training, career counseling, and supportive services

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. § 3224; WIOA Sec. 169

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/reentry

Verified March 2026

Legal Information Institute — 18 U.S.C. § 922

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) — federal prohibition on felons possessing firearms, effectively barring law enforcement careers

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922

Verified March 2026